Parents struggle to get help for mentally ill children during pandemic

Psychotherapist says accessing NHS is harder and most services offered only online or by phone

• Figures lay bare toll of pandemic on UK children’s mental health

When Ellie’s 13th birthday came around this year, what should have been a day of celebration was tinged with deep sadness for her family. She revealed that she had not asked for presents because she did not think she would be alive for another year.

“Our daughter was struggling with depression before the lockdown caused by the pandemic,” her mother said. “This worsened and we were left trying to care for a suicidal child, which was incredibly stressful, lonely and unrelenting. The situation was worsened massively by the slow response of NHS mental health services.”

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from Children | The Guardian https://ift.tt/35yLgQH